Broadband Test and Measurement Baluns

An RF/microwave balun (or transformer) is a device that will takes an input signal at a given output impedance and outputs the same signal and an inverted version of the signal at some output impedance. We offer three different types of test and measurement baluns: transmission line transformer baluns, capacitively coupled baluns, and power divider-inverter baluns. The differences are detailed in the balun basics primer.

Our BAL-0003, BAL-0006, and BAL-0010 are instrumentation grade 50 Ω input: 50 Ω output (100 Ω differential) baluns with excellent phase and amplitude match to kHz frequencies. The BALH-0003, BALH-0006, and BALH-0010 are 1:1 versions of these same baluns, but they can still be used in 50 ohm environments.

The BAL-0106, BAL-0212, and BAL-0520 are capacitively couple baluns. They have excellent amplitude balance, phase balance, and common mode rejection over multi-octave bandwidths.

The BAL-0026, BAL-0036, BAL-0050 and BAL-0067 are the highest frequency baluns in the world. They use a Wilkinson power divider combined with an inverter to achieve 300 kHz to mm wave frequency operation. Because of the Wilkinson power divider, they also offer isolation, making them the preferred solution for performing differential testing with a two-port VNA.